Science Policy Around the Web – March 1, 2012

This Is What A Scientist Looks Like – Do you have a picture in your mind of what a scientist “should” look like…and have trouble taking someone seriously as a scientist if they don’t match it? Some scientists on the web had a discussion about this phenomenon and decided to show the world what scientists REALLY look like. Thus was born a simple photoblog where scientists from around the world submit candid pictures of themselves and give blurbs about their lives and their work. Hit up the “About” and “Stereotypes” links at the top for a more in-depth discussion about the blog’s goals.

NIH Reports on the Future of the US Biomedical Workforce – An NIH working group has reported the results of their Request for Information asking for input about the weaknesses of the research training pipeline. Two of the major issues facing the workforce: the oversupply of Ph.D.s and postdocs and the lack of non-academic career development opportunities. (Unfortunately, following the links to the report itself gives a dead link. Hopefully that will be fixed soon!) (via Julie McClure, ASBMB Policy Blotter)

Teaching science to the religious? Focus on how theories develop – “Brown biology Professor Ken Miller understands that most students are religious. He is too. The way to teach science to religious students is to show how scientific ideas come to be, he says. Students can learn that religious people engage in scientific explorations of nature, and that theories are based on observation and logic, not some anti-religious agenda.” Great article pointing out that religion and science can (and do) co-exist. (by David Orenstein, via Brown University website)

Have an interesting science policy link to share? Let us know in the comments!